#Associations

2025-02-06

EURATEX welcomes the safeguarding of fair competition and compliance in e-commerce in the EU

The European Commission’s communication on e-commerce - adopted by the college of Commissioner’s today- rightly acknowledges the growing challenges posed by the surge of direct-to-consumer imports, particularly through online marketplaces. Non-compliant and unsafe products undermine consumer safety, environmental sustainability, and the competitiveness of law-abiding businesses. The urgency of this issue is underscored by findings from the REACH for textiles project, which revealed that 16% of 400 tested products failed to comply with EU legislation.

These figures highlight the critical need for stronger enforcement measures to prevent unsafe products from reaching EU consumers.

To address these concerns, enforcement of the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Market Act (DMA) must be strengthened, ensuring that e-commerce platforms assume legal responsibilities for the products they offer as well as fair competition in the single market is guaranteed. Additionally, the removal of the de minimis rule and frontloading parts of the Customs Code reform is critical to rapidly closing loopholes that allow non-compliant goods to enter the EU market unchecked. Enhanced coordination with Member States and industry stakeholders can increase the effectiveness of our enforcement efforts. Investment in digital tools such as the Digital Product Passport is essential to increase transparency, safeguard fair trade practices, and reinforce consumer trust.

EURATEX welcomes the Commission's decision to take coordinated action, together with the Consumer Protection Cooperation Network, against Shein. We are also pleased to collaborate on a Digital Fairness Act to strengthen consumer protection in the digital sphere.

EURATEX fully supports the Commission’s commitment to stricter enforcement and urges immediate implementation of these measures to create a level playing field and ensure a safe, sustainable, and competitive e-commerce environment. Director General Dirk Vantyghem concluded: “With billions of garments entering the EU every year, we simply need a more solid system to monitor compliance of these products. EURATEX is looking forward to working together with the European Commission to achieve these important goals.”

Mario Jorge Machado re-elected President of EURATEX

The EURATEX General Assembly has re-elected Mario Jorge Machado as President of EURATEX, renewing its confidence in his leadership at a crucial moment for the European textile and clothing industry. The sector is facing rising costs, global competitive pressure and an increasingly challenging transition towards sustainability and digitalisation.

Europe is losing its textile industry

EURATEX has released its latest Economic Update on the performance of the European textile and apparel industry in 2025. For the third consecutive year, the sector recorded negative results across all key indicators — production, turnover and employment — confirming a continued erosion of competitiveness across Europe.

Keeping products moving with Swedish automation at FILTECH 2026

At FILTECH 2026, taking place in Cologne from June 30th to July 2nd, members of TMAS – the Swedish textile machinery association – will highlight how the country’s engineering expertise is enabling filtration manufacturers to increase productivity, improve traceability and reduce dependence on labour-intensive manual processes.

Results of the 38th ITMF Global Textile Industry Survey

The global textile industry appears to be turning a corner, but this is more likely a fragile and possibly temporary improvement than the start of a durable recovery. According to the 38th ITMF Global Textile Industry Survey, conducted worldwide during the second half of May 2026, business sentiment, order intake, order backlogs and capacity utilization all improved versus March — yet every indicator remains weak by historical standards, and rising costs cast doubt on how long the upturn can last.

“Innovation, resilience and international experience remain the great strengths of the Swiss textile machinery industry”

Geopolitical uncertainty, growing competitive pressure from China, new free trade agreements and the shift towards a circular economy are currently reshaping the global textile industry. In this interview, Cornelia Buchwalder discusses the current mood within the Swiss textile machinery sector, the industry’s distinctive innovative strength, new market opportunities in India and Asia, and the technological trends that could shape the upcoming trade fair cycle leading up to ITMA 2027.

ITM 2026 makes happy participants with its international and qualified visitor profile

ITM 2026 International Textile Machinery Exhibition, one of the most prestigious meeting points of the textile machinery sector, attracted attention in its first three days, particularly with its diverse international visitor numbers. Industry professionals from all over the world had the opportunity to closely examine the latest technology machines and solutions displayed in operation. Thousands of visitors from approximately 100 countries, primarily Egypt, Pakistan, India, Uzbekistan, Syria, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, met at the Tüyap Fair and Congress Center for new investment and cooperation opportunities.

KARL MAYER presents a textile TEXTRONIC® innovation at ITM 2026

With highly efficient machines and continuous textile innovations, KARL MAYER underscores its role as a reliable partner for discerning top-tier customers. Just in time for ITM 2026 in Istanbul, the industry leader is introducing a true innovation: an eyelash lace with its characteristic fringed look – combined with a previously unattainable 4-way stretch. While the established fabric could until now only be produced as rigid version or with one-dimensional stretch, the new elasticity in both dimensions expands the possibilities for cross-band panel fabrics.

DYNEEMA® and NP Aerospace advance personal protection for military servicewomen

Dyneema®, owned by Avient Corporation, an innovator of materials solutions, is supplying its high-performance unidirectional (UD) materials to world-leading armor manufacturer NP Aerospace, enabling the production of armor systems designed specifically to fit the female body. With 2,000 new armor systems, including 4,000 plates, made in the United Kingdom (UK) and delivered in June 2026, this collaboration addresses a long-standing lack of high-quality personal protection specially built for female defense and security personnel.